REBUILDING (ORDER FOR POSSESSION).

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the inquest conducted by the City Coroner on 29th November, 1929, on a death occurring in Clerkenwell slum property, where a tenement comprising six small rooms occupied by 23 men, women, and children could not be demolished and rebuilt by the owners by
998W
reason of the Rent Restriction Act; and whether he is prepared to introduce legislation, by way of amendment of the Rent Restriction Act, in order to provide that, where the owner of property bona fide desires to pull down the same for rebuilding, for commercial purposes or otherwise, he shall be entitled to an order for possession, subject to his providing reasonable alternative accommodation for the displaced occupiers?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. In reply to the second part, I would point out that existing legislation provides that an order for possession may be granted by the Court when a dwelling-house is reasonably required for any purpose which, in the opinion of the Court, is in the public interest and the Court is satisfied as to the existence of alternative accommodation and that it would be reasonable to grant the order.